Dwight D. Eisenhower pre-press conference on Civil Rights 1956-08-08
Dwight D. Eisenhower Papers
Ann Whitman, Dwight D. Eisenhower's secretary records notes on the press conference briefing that will be held in the next month. Eisenhower is urged to stay out of the civil rights platform plank discussion.
This demonstrates Eisenhower's "middle of the road" approach, and shows the tensions that resulted from the Supreme Court's decision (the Brown decision).
This also becomes a predecessor to what would happen at the "Mansfield Crisis", a month later.
Press conference draft for September 11, 1956 on civil rights platform, August 8, 1956, Eisenhower Dwight D.: Papers as President of the United States, 1953-61 (Ann Whitman File), Ann Whitman Diary Series, Box 8, Aug. '56 (1), Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Abilene, Kansas.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library
1956-08-08
State of the Union comments by cabinet members 1955-12-02
State of the Union Message comments
Several cabinet members discuss school segregation, the Brown decision, African American voting, and other civil rights issues. This demonstrates the cabinet members thoughts and perceptions of the current civil rights issues in the country.
State of the Union Message comments by Cabinet Members, December 2, 1955, Eisenhower, Dwight D.: Papers as President of the United States, 1953-61 (Ann Whitman File), Speech Series, Box 14, State of the Union Jan. 1956 (3), Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Abilene, Kansas.
1955-12-02
State of the Union Speech 1956-01
State of the Union
Dwight D. Eisenhower discusses progress on the civil rights subject. Eisenhower claims that discrimination is "disappearing" in pubic facilities, and now every citizen has an equal opportunity to serve it's country. This demonstrates Eisenhower's perception on the progress of civil rights among African Americans.
State of the Union speech on civil rights issues, January 1956, Eisenhower, Dwight D.: Papers as President of the United States, 1953-61 (Ann Whitman File), Speech Series, Box 14, State of the Union Jan. 1956 (1), Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Abilene, Kansas.
1956-01
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Civil Rights Legislation
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 called for reforms to bring about equality in American. Regarding public schools, the Act threatened to withhold federal funding from any school districts that did not integrate.
United States Congress
The National Archives
1964-01-07
Civil Rights Act of 1960
Civil Rights Act of 1960
The Civil Rights Act of 1960 gave free education to children of members of armed forces, however it did not address the segregated school system prevalent across the country. The Civil Rights Act of 1960 also produced penalties for any person trying to keep another from voting or registering to vote. Unfortunately, the Civil Rights Act of 1960 still did little in the way of giving African Americans and Mexican American voting privileges and allowed schools to remain segregated across the nation.
The National Archives
The National Archives
1960
Albert Gore Letter January 31, 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964
A letter from Albert Gore to his constituents assuring them that he would not support the proposed civil rights bill unless amendments were made to make the bill like the previous Civil Rights Acts of 1957 and 1960.
Gore, Albert. "Letter on Civil Rights, 1964." Albert Gore Sr. Senate Collection. Volunteer Voices: The Growth of Democracy in Tennessee. http://idserver.utk.edu/?id=200700000002582.
Tennessee Electronic Library Volunteer Voices
January 31, 1964